Page 398 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

396  IT AL Y AND GREECE

1 Duomo
See pp398–9.
2 San Lorenzo
Piazza di San Lorenzo. @ many routes.
Basilica: Tel 055-21 40 42. Open daily.
Closed Sun (Nov–Feb), religious hols.
& Biblioteca: Tel 055-293 79 11.
Open daily during special exhibitions.
Closed Sun (Nov–Feb), public hols.
Cappelle Medicee: Piazza di Madonna
degli Aldobrandini 6. Tel 055-29 48 83.
Open daily (to 4:50pm). Closed 2nd
& 4th Sun of month, 1st, 3rd, & 5th
Mon of month, Jan 1, May 1 & Dec 25.
& 7
San Lorenzo was the parish Facade of Santa Maria Novella, redesigned by Alberti in 1456–70
church of the Medici family, who
lavished their wealth on its with the design of the New Chapel, Lippi’s dramatic frescoes
adornment. Rebuilt in Renais- Sacristy by Michelangelo. The show St. John raising Drusiana
sance Classical style in 1419, the latter’s funerary figures (1520– from the dead and St. Philip
outer facade was never finished. 34) around its walls are among slaying a dragon. Boccaccio set
The inner facade of the his greatest works. The Chapel of the start of The Decameron in
Basilica was designed by the Princes (1604) is opulently this chapel. The Strozzi Tomb
Michelangelo. Cosimo il Vecchio, decorated with inlaid semi- (1493) is by Florentine sculptor
founder of the Medici dynasty, is precious stones and bright Benedetto da Maiano.
buried under a stone slab before frescoes. Six Grand Dukes of the The 14th-century frescoes
the High Altar. The bronze pulpits Medici family are buried here. in the Strozzi Chapel are by
in the nave are Donatello’s last two brothers (Nardo di Cione
works. Opposite is Bronzino’s 3 Santa Maria and Andrea Orcagna) and
vast fresco of the human form were inspired by Dante’s
in various poses (1659). Novella Divine Comedy.
The Biblioteca Mediceo- Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. @ many Beside the church is a walled
Laurenzia, which housed the routes. 7 Church: Tel 055-21 92 57. cemetery with grave niches. The
family’s manuscripts, has an Open daily (pm only Fri–Sun & religious cloisters on the other side of the
elaborate sandstone staircase, hols). & Museum: Tel 055-28 21 87. church form a museum. The
desks, and ceilings designed Open 9am–5:30pm Mon–Thu, Green Cloister’s name derives
by Michelangelo in 1524. 11am–5:30pm Fri, 9am–5pm Sat, from the green tinge to Uccello’s
The Cappelle Medicee noon–5pm Sun. Closed Jan 1, Easter Noah and the Flood frescoes,
incorporate three sacristies which Sun, May 1. & 7 damaged by the 1966 floods.
epitomize different periods The adjoining Spanish Chapel
of art. Donatello’s The Gothic church of Santa contains frescoes on the theme
decoration of the Maria Novella, built by the of salvation and damnation.
Old Sacristy Dominicans between 1279 and
contrasts 1357, contains some of the 4 Galleria
most important works of
art in Florence. The dell’Accademia
interior displays a number Via Ricasoli 60. @ many routes.
of superb frescoes, Tel 055-29 48 83 (bookings). Open
including Masaccio’s Tue–Sun. Closed Mon & public hols.
Trinity (c.1428), which is & 7 ∑ polomuseale.firenze.it
renowned as a master-
piece of perspective and The Academy of Fine Arts in
portraiture. The close Florence, founded in 1563,
spacing of the nave was the first school in Europe
piers at the east end set up to teach drawing,
accentuates the illusion painting, and sculpture.
of length. The Tornabuoni Since 1873, many of Michel-
Chapel contains Ghirlan- angelo’s most important works
daio’s fresco cycle, The Life have been in the Accademia.
of John the Baptist (1485). Perhaps the most famous of
Detail from Donatello pulpit, San Lorenzo In the Filippo Strozzi all dominates the collection:
For hotels and restaurants see pp438–40 and pp441–3

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